Blessings #798 to 825

798. People asking for applications for the short term mission trip to Niños de Mexico - many who want to go back!

799. Debbie and Ray's willingness to drive my mom to appointments.

800. Sorting through pictures of my vacation this summer with Colby - amazing memories that I will cherish the rest of my life.

801. Students expressing their disappointment when I told them that I would not be going on the Seattle trip this year.

802. Still being able to unload and stack bails of hay

803. The sportsmanship displayed by opposing teams when their cheers increase as the last cross-country runners approach the finish line

804. Students wanting me to come to their sports events

805. Seeing and talking to parents at students' sporting events

806. Being able to help neighbors

807. Praying in the mornings, with Sandy, before going to work

808. Hearing Sandy talk about her students with joy

809. Learning lessons, and God's mercy, through failures

810. Being able to help Niños even when money is tight

811. A gorgeous October hike in the mountains with Sandy and Mick

812. Being in a groove teaching, both at school and at church

813. Getting to know people better by sharing meals together

814. Visits from former students

815. A note from my sub that says, "your students love you!"

816. Talking with someone who truly understands my frustrations, sadness, and depression about my job and my diminishing hope for something better

817. A walk in the woods with Sandy and Beka

818. Helping Calli with Geology

819. Walking home from work

820. Fall colors

821. Encouragement cookies

822. Getting to know a new colleague a little better

823. Sharing traveling stories with a friend and former co-worker and catching up on each others' families

824. Hanging out in the back yard with my dog

825. Disciplining and calling out a student who is be a disrespectful smart aleck, and having other students understand my frustration. Instead of being bothered by my standard of behavior, they went to their next class and demanded better behavior from the student I had disciplined, not in a mean-spirited way, but in a “you better get your act together for the rest of our classes,” sort of way.